Fuel filter with valve device

A replaceable filter element removably positionable within a housing composed of mating parts forming an interior enclosure for the filter element, said filter element comprising:

• a continuous ring of filter media circumscribing a longitudinal axis, said ring having an interior surface bounding an interior area and first and second ends,
• a first end cap, said first end cap including an annular end cap portion disposed against the first end of the filter media ring in adhesively-bonded, fluid-tight relation thereto, said annular portion defining a second central opening, and a central disk-shaped portion, separate from and movable with respect to said annular end cap portion, spanning the annular end cap portion and fixed to said annular end cap portion, said disk-shaped portion having an annular surface portion in surface-to-surface engagement with a surface-portion of the first end cap surrounding the second central opening, said first end cap preventing fluid flow through the first end of the filter media ring;
• a second end cap longitudinally disposed from said first end cap and disposed against the second end of said media ring in adhesively bonded, fluid-tight relation thereto, said second end cap having a first central opening therethrough axially aligned with said longitudinal axis allowing access into said interior area;
• said first end cap further including a projection in said interior area extending longitudinally along said longitudinal axis away from said first end cap toward the second end cap, said projection including a base end directly fixedly joined to said central portion of said first end cap radially-inward from the interior surface and independently of the mating part of the housing that would be adjacent to said first end cap, and a distal free end terminating at a point closer to said first end cap than said second end cap, said projection radially disposed inwardly of said interior surface, smaller in transverse cross-section than said first central opening, and longer than it is wide, said projection further including a tubular wall forming a portion of a recess that opens away from said interior area to an axially outer side of said wall of said first end cap.

A replaceable filter element removably positionable within a housing composed of mating parts forming an interior enclosure for the filter element, said filter element comprising:

• a continuous ring of filter media circumscribing a longitudinal axis, said ring having an interior surface bounding an interior area and first and second ends,
• a first end cap, said first end cap including an annular end cap portion disposed against the first end of the filter media ring in adhesively-bonded, fluid-tight relation thereto, said annular portion defining a second central opening, and a central disk-shaped portion separate from and removable with respect to said annular end cap portion, spanning the annular end cap portion and sealably connected to said annular end cap portion, said disk-shaped portion having an annular surface portion in surface-to-surface engagement with a surface portion of the first end cap surrounding the second central opening said first end cap preventing fluid flow through the first end of the filter media ring;
• a second end cap longitudinally disposed from said first end cap and disposed against the second end of said media ring in adhesively bonded, fluid-tight relation thereto, said second end cap having a first central opening therethrough axially aligned with said longitudinal axis allowing access into said interior area;
• said first end cap further including a projection in said interior area extending longitudinally along said longitudinal axis away from said first end cap toward the second end cap, said projection including a base end directly fixedly joined to said central portion of said first end cap radially-inward from the interior surface and independently of the mating part of the housing that would be adjacent to said first end cap, and a distal free end terminating at a point closer to said first end cap than said second end cap, said projection radially disposed inwardly of said interior surface, smaller in transverse cross-section than said first central opening, and longer than it is wide, said projection further including a tubular wall forming a portion of a recess that opens away from said interior area to an axially outer side of said wall of said first end cap.